Assembling machine



June 25; 1935. H E EDWARDS 2,006,071

ASSEMBL I NG' MACHINE Filed July 6, 1931 5 Sheets-Sheet l ativz-zzqyJune 25,1935. H. E. EDWARDS ASSEMBLING MACHINE Filed July 6, 1931 3Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented June 25, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 28Claims.

The present invention relates to assembling machines, and moreparticularly to machines for assembling component parts of shoe uppers.

In the manufacture of shoes, particularly for women, it is necessary toassemble with shoe upper parts, such as Vamps, tips and quarters,relatively small pieces such as overlays and underlays. In addition itis customary to reinforce inherently weak portions of the shoe upperparts or portions thereof which will be weakened in subsequentoperations by applying locally relatively small staying or reinforcingpieces. The application of theserelatively small pieces to a particularportion of the shoe upper part is expensive as it involves a number ofoperations most of which must be performed by hand with skill and care.First the shoe upper part must be marked to indicate accurately theportion thereof which is to receive the small piece, whether it is anoverlay, underlay or a reinforcement. Then one face of the small piecemust be rendered sticky, either by treating a prepared coating thereonor by applying adhesive thereto. Then the sticky piece must besuperimposed upon the shoe upper part, care being taken to cover theproper portion of the shoe upper part by registering the piece with themark previously formed on the shoe upper part. Finally the assembledparts must be subjected to pressure to insure 30 the adherence of thesuperimposed piece to the underlying shoe upper part.

The object of the present invention is to produce a machine which willassemble unmarked component shoe upper parts in a rapid, reliable andinexpensive manner.

To the accomplishment of this object, and such others as may appearhereinafter, the various features of the present invention consist incertain constructions, combinations and arrangements of partshereinafter described and then set forth broadly and in detail in theappended claims.

The various features of the present invention will be understood readilyfrom an inspection of the acompanying drawings, illustrating the bestform of the invention at present devised, in which,

Figure l is a view in plan of the assembling machine, the pick-up meansbeing at the pick- 50 up station;

Fig. 2. is a view in front elevation;

3 is a view in plan, the pick-up means being at the superimposingstation;

Fig. 4 is a view in sectional elevation on the line 4-4, Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a view in plan illustrating a modification;

Fig. 6 is a view in-elevation of the modified type of die illustrated inFig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a detail view in sectional elevation of the roll for renderingthe bottom faces of the pieces of stock adhesive;

Fig. 8 is a detail view in sectional elevation illustrating themechanism for lowering the roll during the idle stroke of the dies, and

Fig. 9 is a detail View in rear elevation of the mechanism for loweringthe disappearing pins in a step by step manner.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figs. 1, 2, 3 and. 4,the machine is set up to support separately a pair of shoe upper partsherein shown as quarters it), one right and the other left (Fig. l) anda pair of stacks ll (Fig. 2) of pieces of stock 53 (Figs. 1 and 3)herein shown as stays for reinforcing the quarters l0 in the region or"the eyelet holes to be inserted therethrough in a subsequent operation.

The quarters it! are supported fiat-wise upon the horizontal surface ofa pattern I 3 which is provided with one or more holes i 4, herein shownas four in number. The holes l4 receive vertical pins !5 projectingupwardly from the fiat top of an elevated bed l6 integral with a bedplate ll. With this construction the pattern I3 is removably mounted onthe bed IE.

The stacks H are supported upon a pattern [8. For economy in manufacturethe patterns l3 and I8 are standardized. The pattern I8 is provided withholes [9 which receive vertical pins 20 projecting upwardly from theupper walls of a hollow bed 2i on the bed plate H. The walls of thehollow bed 2! form a box-like structure which is closed at its top bythe pattern IS. The pattern I8 is provided with a plurality of eyelets22 (Fig. 3) which embrace loosely a plurality of pins 23 (Figs. 3 and 4)which confine laterally the pieces H2 in the stacks H in all directionsby engagement with various points on their edges. The stacks are thussupported in magazines each having a stationary bottom and a verticallymovable retaining Wall. The bottom of the pattern I8 is reinforced inthe region of the eyelets 22 by a backing plate 24 (Fig. 4). The bottomends of the pins 23 are supportedby a false bottom 25 the edges of whichengage loosely the internal walls of the hollow bed 2|. The false bottom25 rests on a horizontal plate 26. With this construction the locationof the eyelets 22 may be varied as desired to change the shape or sizeof the area bounded by the pins 23. Provided the eyelets 22 are properlylocated, the operative may prepare the pattern It for the support ofwork pieces l2 varying widely in size or shape merely by dropping thepins 23 through the eyelets as the bottoms of the pins 23 may rest uponany portion of the extensive surface of the false bottom 25.

Soldered to the bottom of the plate are two horizontal rods 2's and 28which are wider than the plate so that the ends thereof may project intoinclined slots 2!? and Si), respectively, formed in the lateral sidewalls of the hollow bed 25. Pivoted to the horizontal rod 28 are twolinks 3i and 32 (Figs. 3 and 4) which are pivoted, respec tively, onpins 33 and 3d carried by ears and 36 projecting upwardly from a slideBl mounted to slide on the bed plate ll. Secured centrally to the slideSi is a strap 38 which carries on its free end a roll 3% (Figs. 1, 3, 4and 9) arranged to engage the peripheral edge of a verge it. The vergeid is carried by a ratchet ii rotatably mounted on the cylindrical shankof a horizontal boltv 42 (Fig. 9). The shank of the bolt 22 is threadedon both ends to receive nuts 63 (Fig. l) and M (Fig. 9) one of which,the nut is, secures the bolt to the rear wall of the hollow bed 2i. Thebolt M holds the verge it and the ratchet ii in position on the shank ofthe bolt @2. The roll 39 is held in engagement with the verge ti! by apair of coiled springs (Fig. 3) the ends of each of which are secured tothe horizontal rod 28 and to pins 16 projecting laterally from the sidewalls of the hollow bed 2 l.

I Shoe factory systems vary in the number of pairs constituting a caselot. In some factories thirty-six pairs form a case lot. In others,twenty-four. In still others, twelve. The pins 23 (Fig. 4) arestandardized. That is, they are long enough for use with a stack i iformed by thirtysix ofthe pieces l2. When a stack ll, containing lessthan thirty-six pieces of stock, is to be supported upon the pattern t8,the distance the pins 23 project above the work supporting surface ofthe pattern 5 8 is reduced so that the upper ends of the pins 23 mayproject above the top piece of stock in the stack a predetermineddistance, the amount of which is uniform for all heights of stacks andwhich is maintained uniform as the pieces of stock are withdrawn one ata time from the stack.

To enable the operative to adjust the pins 23 preliminarily toaccommodate them to different heights of stacks H the shank of the bolt12 carries loosely an arm ll (Fig. 9) Normally the arm H is held againsta pin 68, projecting from the l rear wall of the hollow bed M, by acoiled spring 469 one end of which is secured to the rear wall of thehollow bed 2i and the other end of which is secured to a bent pin 58secured to the arm ill. The arm 4? carries a pivoted spring pressed pawl5! arranged to engage the ratchet ll. The operative may, by oscillatingthe arm ll, operate the ratchet ll in a counter-clockwise direction,viewing Fig. 9, through the pawl 58, and thus rotate the verge ll). Theverge til by engagement with the roll 39 draws the slide ill to theright (Fig. l)

thus causing the rods 2? and 28 to travel down the slots 2E! and 3E? andlower the plate which supports the false bottom 25 upon which the pins23 rest. The ratchet ll is held from a retrograde movement, viewing Fig.9, by a pivoted spring pressed pawl 52 mounted in a cage 53 secured tothe rear wall of the hollow bed 2 i.

In order to withdraw the uppermost piece from both of the stacks itsimultaneously the pieces are engaged, respectively, by dies 56 and 55(Fig.

2) projecting downwardly from the bottom face of a flat plate 56removably secured to a holder 5?. To this end the plate 5 5 is providedwith a pair of upstanding pins 58 which are received in holes formed inthe holder 511. The pins 53 near their upper ends are provided withnotches engaged by latches 59 pivotally mounted on the holder. Byswinging the latches 59 on their pivots the pins 58 are released so thatthe plate 56 may be withdrawn from the holder El and another plate 56carrying other dies 54 and 55 substituted therefor.

The dies 5% and 55 have flat bottom faces shaped in exact accordancewith the shape of the pieces in the stacks H. The dies project below thebottom of the plate 55 a distance commensurate with the distance thepins 23 project above the uppermost pieces in the stacks I I. With thisconstruction the dies enter into the spaces defined by the pins 23 toengage the uppermost pieces in the stacks, the extent of this movementbeing limited by the upper ends of the pins 23 which engage the plate56.

The holder 5? is carried by the bottom of a rod til (Fig. 4) whichslides vertically in a boss 62 formed in a head 62. The head 62 receivesand slides upon two horizontal rods 63 and 64 the free ends of which aresupported, respectively, in brackets 65 and E56 projecting upwardly fromthe bed plate II. the head 52 is constrained to slide laterally in asingle horizontal plane.

In order to reciprocate the rod (ii! to lower the dies 5 and 55 intoengagement with the top pieces in the stacks l2, the rod is slotted toreceive an arm 6'! pivoted at one end on the head t2 and provided on itsother end with an operating handle 68. The arm El and the parts operatedtherebyare held normally in the position of Fig. i by a coiled spring 69which is mounted in a springchamber 70 formed in the head 62. The upperend of the spring 65) engages a pin ll depending from the arm Bl.

In order to constrain the downward movement of the rod Bil to a singlevertical plane the horizontal rod 63 is provided with an opening l2(Fig. 3) which, when the head 62 is positioned against a buffer 13 onthe rod 63, is in position to receive a pin M m0ll1lt8d in an opening 15formed in the head 62. The upper end of the pin M is pivoted between twoplates l5 (Figs. 1 and i) which'are secured'to the opposite sides of thearm 67.

'In order-to prepare for the operation of the machine the pattern makerdesigns paper patterns having contours identical with the shoe upperparts to be supported upon the pattern I3. Each paper pattern has anopening cut therein having a contour identical with the pieces to besupported upon the pattern l8. Thus the paper patterns show not only thecontours of the left and right shoe upper parts and the pieces to besuperimposed thereon, but the exact position the pieces should occupywhen superimposed upon the shoe upper parts.

With these paper patterns as guides, the dies 5 and 55, on the bottom ofthe plate 56, are constructed with surface contours identical with theopenings in the paper patterns. Stated in. another way, the dies 54 and55 are provided with contours on their bottom faces, respectively,identical with the contour of the pieces to be applied to the shoe upperparts represented by the paper patterns.

In order to determine the proper location of With this construction 1the quarters H! and the stacks I l on the patterns l3 and I8,respectively, these patterns, without anything on their exposedsurfaces, are placed in position on the beds It and 2|, respectively.With the head 62' positioned at the pick-up station, as shown in Figs. 1and 2, the handle 68 is pressed downwardly to force the dies Stand 55into contact with'the pattern l8 to imprint, through carbon paper orotherwise, their contour on the surface of the pattern l8. Theseimprints are used as guides to determine the location of the eyelets 22for the pins 23 which confine laterally the pieces I2 in the stacks Iiin all directions by engagement with various points on their edges. 7

Then the handlefit is elevated intothe position of Fig. 4 and the head62 is slid to the left (Fig. 1) to bring the left side end thereof incontact with a buffer 7'! (Figs. 1 and 2) as shown in Fig. 3. When thehead 952 is in contact with the buffer 1! the pin F4 is registered witha hole 18 in the horizontal rod 655 thus permitting the rod 6! to bereciprocated to bring the dies 54 and 55 into engagement with theexposed surface of the pattern l3 and print or impress their contoursthereon.

Then the paper patterns, hereinbefore referred to, are placed upon thepattern i3 and the edges of the openings in the paper patterns areregistered with the imprints of the dies d and 55. Next lines arescribed on the pattern [3 employing the available gaging edges of theregistered paper patterns as guides. These available edges may be heldto a grade. The scribed lines are used to determine the location of thegages E9 and 853, of the bumper type, on the pattern [3.

As indicated in Fig. 1 portions of the stays i2 register with edges onthe quarters. In many instances, however, the overlays, underlays orreinforces generally are located within the marginal portions of theshoe upperparts supported on the pattern l3. Thus, the gages "l9 and 8Egage the location of the shoe upper parts on the pattern l3 relativelyto the dies 54 and 55 so that any predetermined portion of the superficial surface of the said shoe upper parts may receive the pieces I 2.It will be clear, viewing Fig. 4, that if the rod 60 is reciprocated tolower the dies 54 and 55 while the pin M is not in a position to enterthe openings it or 58, the pin will strike the rod 63 and so blockfurther descent of the dies. In this manner superimposing accuracy isassured because the operation of the pin 74 in the opinings 'lz and I8necessitates first that the pieces l2 register accurately with the dies54 and 55 and then that the pieces l2 be superimposed upon only thepredetermined portion of the superficial surface of the shoe upper partsiii. 7

The gages 19 and Bil gage a complete series of shoe upper parts of thesame style, one pair at a time, in position to receive in a uniformmanner the pieces It which, however, are not graded in any way, theybeing the same size for all the various sizes and widths in the completeseries of shoe upper parts supported upon the pattern It.

In order to enable thedies 5d and 55 to pick up the uppermost pieces inthe stacks H and retain them in position while the pieces are beingtransferred to and superimposed upon the quarters It, the bottom facesof the dies 54 and 55 are provided with vertical air passages 8| and $2,respectively,'(Fig. 2). The upper ends of these air passages 8| and 82receive hollow ferrules 83 and 84, respectively, carried by flexibleconduits 85 andfi i communicating with a header 8?. In addition to theconduits 85 and 86, the header 8! is connected to two more suctionconduits t8 and 3E5. These conduits are not used with small dies likethe dies 54 and 55, but the ferrules on the lower ends thereof arefitted into blind openings 90 and 9! formed in the head 62.

The header 8? communicates with one end of a flexible conduit Q2(Fig. 1) the other end of which is connected with the intake of an airpump 93 mounted on the bed plate ii and driven by the armature shaft 3of an electric motor $5. When the air pump 93 is in operation air isdrawn through the openings 8! and 82 thus producing a condition ofunbalanced pressure on the bottom faces of the dies 54 and 55 whichcauses the uppermost pieces on the stacks to adhere to the dies whenthey are engaged therewith. The air drawn into the pump 93 is dischargedthrough an outlet 95. The suction pull on the piecesengaged by the diesmay be varied by a petcock 8? interposed in the suction line between theconduit S2 and the inlet to the pump 93.

The pieces 62 used for overlays, underlays, and reinforces generally,may be of three general types, namely, thermoplastic, hydroplastic, ordry. By thermoplastic I mean that the face of the piece which is toengage the shoe upper part is coated with an adhesive normallynonadhesive under ordinary conditions of temperature but which iscapable of being rendered tacky by the application of heat thereto. Byhydroplastic I mean that the coating requires the application of waterthereto in order to render it adhesive. By dry I mean that the bottomface of the piece is uncoated and is rendered adhesive by theapplication of some sticky material such as latex, gum, paste, cement orthe like.

If the pieces are hydro-plastic the machine is provided with acylindrical roller S38 (Figs. 1, 2, 7 and 3) constructed of somemoisture absorbent material, such as sponge rubber 99. The sponge rubber$9 is mounted on a core 589 which in turn is mounted on a shaft if]!having ends journaled on the bottoms of slots it?! formed on theend'fianges m3 (Fig. 1) of a small tank tea. The tank ltd is reincvabiymounted within a holder Hit which in turn is removably mounted onthe bedplate in the space between the beds [5 and The holder (Fig. l) isprovided with an outturned end flange Hit having a slot H31 thereinwhich receives a pin it, on the bed plate lfl, to the upper end of whichis threaded a butterfly nut its for clamping the flange lit to the bedplate if. The holder 985 is provided also with a slotted end flange H6(Fig. 2) which fits over a pin ill, on the bed plate 2?, for engagementwith a butterfly clamping nut H2.

When the dies and 55 are moved into engagement with the uppermosthydroplastic pieces on the stacks ii, respectively, the suction producedby the air pump 93 causes the pieces to adhere to the dies and to leavethe stacks upon the return of the dies to the position of Fig. 4. Thenti e head 323 is reciprocated to the left (Figs. 1 2) to bring thepl8ll--ll13 pieces into the superimposing position of Fig. 3. As thedies move from the position of Fig. 1 to that of Fig. Sthe pieces wipeover the periphery of the roll 38 and the hydroplastic coating on thepieces is rendered adhesive by the water on the roll. During theengagement of'the pieces with the roll 98 the suction holds the piecesfrom displacement on the dies.

After the head 62 is positioned as shown in Fig.

3, the dies are reciprocated to superimpose the sticky pieces upon theshoe upper parts supported upon the pattern I3. The pieces engage theunderlying shoe upper parts with sufficient pressure to cause the piecesto adhere substantially instantly thereto. As soon as the handle $8 isreleased the dies are elevated but the pieces are not carried upwardlyby the dies, the adherence of the pieces to the shoe upper parts beingsufficient to break the suctional grip of the dies on the pieces.

In order to prevent the roll 98 from wetting the bottom faces of thedies as they return to obtain another pair of pieces from the stacks I Ifor application to another pair of shoe upper parts positioned in thepattern I3, the machine is provided with mechanism for lowering the rolliii? to withdraw its periphery from the plane of reciprocation of thedies. To this end the end flanges Hi6 and IIEI of the holder IE supportfor rotation a horizontal shaft III-I through which are threaded screwsII i (Figs. '7 and 8). When the dies are travelling from the pick-upstation to the superimposing station the tank IM- is supported upon theheads of the screws I M (Fig. 7) When the dies are travelling back tothe pick-up station the bottom of the tank I62 rests upon the shaft H3(Fig. 8).

In order to oscillate the shaft I IS in timed relation with thehorizontal movements of the dies the rear end of the shaft IE3 carriesan arm II5 which is secured to the shaft by a screw H6. The movement ofthe shaft lit, in a clockwise direction viewing Fig. 7, is limited by astop pin II? projecting rearwardly from the rear flange ltlfi of theholder I05. This stop pin insures the uniform elevation of the roll 98to bring its periphery into the horizontal plane of movement of thedies.

The arm H5 is provided with a slot I I8 which embraces a pin IISIprojecting laterally from a slide I2Il. The slide I2!) is provided withslots I2l (Fig. 2) which embrace the shanks of small headed bolts I22(Fig. l) secured to brackets I23 (Fig. 3) secured respectively to thebeds I6 and 2|. At its opposite ends the slide I20 is provided withupstanding lugs I24 and I25 (Fig. 2) arranged in the path of movement ofa pin I26 (Fig. 4) projecting laterally from an arm I2? depending fromthe head 62. When the head 62 is reciprocated into the position of Fig.3 to bring the dies into the superimposing station the pin I26 strikesthe lug I24 and moves the slide to the left (Figs. 1 and 2) therebyoscillating, through the connections described, the shaft H3 into theposition of Fig. 8. When the head 62 is reciprocated back into theposition of Fig. 1 the pin I26 strikes the lug I25 and moves the slideI28 to the right (Figs. 1 and 2) thereby oscillating the shaft H3 intothe position of Fig. 7. Thus the roll 98 is elevated for the passage ofthe dies thereover from the pick-up station to the superimposingstation, and is lowered for the return of the dies to the pick-upstation.

When the head 62 is moved back into the pickup station another pair ofshoe upper parts is placed on the pattern I3 against the gages l9 and8E? and the cycle of operations is repeated. As described hereinbeforethe pins 23 by engagement with the plate 56 limit the downward movementof the dies. After one piece has been removed from each of the stacks itis necessary to lower the plate 25 a distance commensurate with thethickness of the removed pieces so that the upper ends of the pins 23may be maintained a uniform distance above the uppermost pieces in thestacks until all the pieces are removed therefrom.

In order to control the lowering of the pins 23 automatically the arm 41is provided with a lug I23 which is engaged by a toe I29 formed on thelower end of the arm IZI. Each time the head 62 is returned to thepick-up station the toe I29 strikes the lug I28 and oscillates the arm41 to rotate the ratchet H and the verge 40. As the verge 40 rotates,the roll 39 is moved to the right (Fig. 4) and the plate 26 is loweredan amount commensurate with the thickness of the pieces in the stacks.As this thickness may vary with the different types of work pieceshandled, the lug I 28 is secured to one end of a screw I30 threaded intothe upper end of the arm 41, the adjustment of the screw I30 beingmaintained by a winged clamping nut I3 I. From an inspection of Fig. 9it will be understood that the earlier the toe I29 engages the lug I26in the return of the head 62 to the pick-up station the greater will bethe rotative movement of the ratchet II and the consequent greaterdistance through which the plate 26 is lowered. The peripheral edge ofthe verge (It is shaped to permit the roll 3% to escape along a lateralwall I32 (Fig. 4), under the influence of the springs 25, when thepieces are all withdrawn from the stacks. Thus, the pins 23 are causedto pop up through the eyelets 23 into their original positions ready toreceive two more stacks of pieces I2 immediately upon the exhaustion ofthe stacks.

If the pieces in the stacks are the dry type hereinbefore referred to,the tank IEJ i is supplied with the adhesive and the roll 98, or asubstitute therefor, is then used to apply the adhesive to the bottomfaces of the dry pieces as they are dragged across the periphery of theroll by the dies.

If the pieces in the stacks are thermoplastic, the die holder 5'! isprovided with an electrical heating unit, (not shown), the terminals I33and I3 1 (Fig. 1) thereof being connected to some suitable source ofelectricity.

But whether the pieces in the stacks are thermoplastic, hydroplastic ordry, they are rendered adhesive during the travel of the dies from thepick-up station to the superimposing station. The roll 98, the tank I04,or, it may be, the holder I05 therefor, may be removed from the machineduring its use on thermoplastic pieces.

It is often desirable in the manufacture of shoes to apply a doubler toa shoe upper part. Usually the doubler and the shoe upper part are thesame size and shape so that it is necessary to register their edges inassembling them to gether. Owing to the porous character of the materialfrom which the doubler is made it would be impracticable to employsuction means for transferring the doubler from the pick-up station tothe superimposing station. Therefore, in assembling a doubler and a shoeupper part together the doublers are supported, one at a time, on apattern I35 (Fig. 5) while a, stack of shoe upper parts are supported onthe pattern I8.

Owing to the grade of the doubler it is not practicable to employ gagesof the bumper type like the gages I9 and 8%, Fig. 1. Instead, thepattern I35 (Fig. 5) is provided with a line gage I36, with whichcertain edges on the doubler are registered. To this end the pattern I35may be, and preferably is, the attachment illustrated in Fig. 4 of thedrawings in my Patent No.

1,881,399, October 4, 1932; The pattern l8'supports a stack of shoeupper parts I31 -(Fig. 5) having the same shape and superficial 'a'reaas the doubler. These shoe upper parts I31 are engaged by the pins 23 toform the stack.

When using the machine to pick-up the shoe upper parts l3! from thestack on the pattern l8 a flatdie H8 is secured to the holder 51 bymeans of the latches 59 which engage the vertical pins 58 projectingfrom the back face of -the die I38; Thedle E33 is provided with a numberof air passages i39, any selected four of which may be connected to thefour conduits 85, 86, 8B and 89.

After the die I38 picks up the shoe upper part i it is transferred tothe superimposing station Where the shoe upper'part is superimposed uponthe doubler. In between the stations the shoe upper part is renderedadhesive in the manner hereinbefore described with reference to thepieces l2. i

Nothing herein explained isto be interpreted as limiting th variousinventions in the scope of their appplication to use in connection withthe particular apparatus or the particular 1 mode of operation or bothselected for purposes of illustration and explanation. While theparticulars of construction herein set forth are well suited. to onemechanical form of the invention, it is not limited to these details ofconstruction, nor to the conjoint use of all its features, nor is it tobe understood that these particulars are essential since theymay bemodified within the skill of the artisan without departing from the truescope of the actual inventions, characterizing features of which are setforth in the following claims by the intentional useof generic terms andexpressions inclusive of various modifications.

What is claimed as new, is:

1. In an assembling machine, the combination with means for supportingseparately the parts to be assembled, of means having continuous suctionfor assembling the parts.

2. In an assembling machine, the combination with means for supportingseparately the parts to be assembled, of heated means having continuoussuction for assembling the parts.

3. In a machine for assembling parts one face of at least one of whichis thermoplastic, the

combination with means for supporting separately the parts to beassembled,a die for engagement with the non-thermoplastic face of thethermoplastic part, means for heating the die, and suction meansconnected to the die, of means for operating the die to pick up thethermoplastic part, render it adhesive, superimpose the adhesivethermoplastic part upon the other part and subject the assembled partsto pressure.

4. In an assembling machine, the combination "with removable patterns,and means for locating thereon the parts to be assembled, respectively,of means for picking up at least one part from one of the patterns andsuperimposing it in a predetermined position upon a part located onanother pattern.

5; In an assembling machine, the combination with a support for a pairof shoe upper parts, one right and one left, and a support for two pilesof pieces of stock, of means for picking up two pieces, one fromeachpile', and superimposing them upon the right and left shoe upperparts, respectively, mounted on their original support; 6. In anassembling machine, the combination with means for supporting separatelythe parts to be assembled, reciprocating mechanism for the movement ofsaid overhead means, of means operating independently of said movementlimit; ing means for constraining the pick-up movement of saidreciprocating mechanism to a perpendicular. r

7. In an assembling machine, the combination with means for supportingseparately the parts to be assembled, reciprocating mechanism forpicking up at least one part and superimposing it upon another part onanother original support, movable ovcrhead'means adapted to receive saidreciprocating mechanism, and means for limiting the movement of saidoverhead means; of means operating independently of said movementlimiting means for constraining both the picking up and thesuperimposing movements of said mechanism to perpendiculars.

8. In an assembling machine, the combination with means for supportingseparately the partsto be assembled, reciprocating mechanism for pickingup at least one part and superimposing it upon another part on anotheroriginal support, movable overhead means adapted to receive saidreciprocating mechanism, and means for limiting the movement of saidoverhead means, of means operating independently of said movementlimiting means for constraining the pickup and superimposing movementsof said reciprocating mechanism to rectilinear movements in verticalplanes.

9. In an assembling machine, the combination with means for supportingseparately the parts to, be assembled, reciprocatingmechanism forpicking up one part and superimposing it upon another part, movableoverhead means adapted to receive said reciprocating mechanism, meansfor limiting the movement of said overhead means, and means operatingindependently of said movement limiting means for constraining thepick-up and superimposing movements of said reciprocating mechanism torectilinear movements in vertical planes, of means underlying saidreciprocating mechanism during the operation of said constraining meansfor correlating an identical superficial area on said parts uniformlywith relation to said vertical planes, respectively. 1

10. In an assembling machine, the combination with a support for aplurality of shoe upper parts and a support for a plurality of piles ofpicking up small, thin work pieces and movable in a different plane fordrawing the pieces in a rectilinear path from a position on one side ofA the roll across the periphery of the roll to' the other side thereof,and means operativcly" connected to the suction means for elevating theroll for the drawing movement of" thesuctio'n means.

12. In a stock-handling machine, thecombination with a support for astack of pieces of stock and a plurality of members associated with saidsupport to confine the pieces laterally in all directions by engagementwith various pointson their edges; of mechanism having a faceengageable' with said-members and a face insertable within the areabounded by the members for withdrawing the pieces one at a time from thestack.

13. Ina stock-handling machine, the combination with a support for astack of pieces of stock and a plurality of members loosely mounted insaid support to confine the pieces laterally in all directions byengagement with various points on their edges, of a support for thelower ends of said members.

14. In a stock-handling machine, the combination with a support for astack of pieces of stock and a plurality of members loosely mounted insaid support to confine the pieces laterally in all directions byengagement with various points on their edges and a support for thelower ends of said members, of means for lowering the second namedsupport intermittently.

15. In a stock-handling machine, the combination with a support for astack of pieces of stock and a plurality of members loosely mounted insaid support to confine the pieces laterally in all directions byengagement with various points on their edges and a support for thelower ends of said members, of means for lowering the second namedsupport intermittently a distance substantially commensurate with thethickness of one of the pieces.

16. In a stock-handling machine, the combination with a box having aremovable cover pro- Vided with a plurality of openings and a falsebottom, of a plurality of pins loosely mounted in the openings andengaged with the false bottom.

17. In a stock-handling machine, the combination with a box having aremovable cover provided with a plurality of openings and a falsebottom, and a plurality of pins loosely mounted in the openings andengaged with the false bottom, of means for raising and lowering thefalse bottom.

18. In a stock handling machine, the combination with a stationarysupport for a stack of pieces of stock, vertically movable means forconfining the stacked pieces laterally in all directions by engagementwith various points on their edges, and means for imparting movement tosaid confining means, of means for maintaining said confining means in agiven position to which it is moved by said movement imparting meansuntil moved thereby to a diiferent position.

19. In a stock-handling machine, the combination with a diminishablemagazine having a stationary bottom and an open top for holding a stackof pieces of stock, and mechanism for withdrawing the pieces one at atime through the open top of the magazine and for diminishing themagazine with each withdrawal, of means for maintaining the magazine inthe diminished state resulting from one withdrawal until the magazine isfurther diminished as the result of a subsequent withdrawal.

20. In a stock-handling machine, the combination with a diminishablemagazine having a stationary bottom and an open top for holding a stackof pieces of stock, and mechanism having a face engageable with saidmagazine for withdrawing the pieces one at a time out through its opentop and for diminishing the magazine with each withdrawal, of means formaintaining the magazine in the diminished state resulting from onewithdrawal until the magazine is further diminished as the result of asubsequent withdrawal.

21. In a stock-handling machine, the combination with a magazine havinga stationary bottom and an open top for holding a stack of pieces ofstock, of mechanism having a face engageable with said magazine and aface shaped similar to the exposed face of the uppermost piece in thestack insertable within said open top for with drawing the pieces one ata time from the stack.

22. In a stock-handling machine, the combination with a magazine havinga stationary bottom and an open top for holding a stack of pieces ofstock, of mechanism for withdrawing the pieces one at a time from themagazine and shortening the height of the stack retaining wall of themagazine a distance substantially commensurate with the thickness of oneof the pieces in the stack.

23. In a stock-handling machine, the combination with a support for astack of pieces of stock and a retaining wall therefor, of mechanismhaving a face shaped similar to the exposed face of the uppermost blankin the stack insertable within the area bounded by the retaining wallfor withdrawing the pieces one at a time from the stack.

24. In a stock handling machine, the combination with a stationarysupport for a stack of pieces of stock, a vertically movable retainingwall therefor, and reciprocating means for imparting movement to saidwall, of means engaging the wall for maintaining it in a given positionto which it is moved by said reciprocating means until moved thereby toa different position.

25. In a stock handling machine, the combination with a stationarysupport for a stack of pieces of stock, means for removing the piecesfrom the stack one at a time, and means, movable Vertically byengagement with the removing means, for confining the stacked pieceslaterally in all directions by engagement with various points on theiredges, of means for maintaining the confining means in a given positionto which it is moved by the removing means until moved thereby to adifferent position.

26. In a stock handling machine, the combination with a stationarysupport for a stack of pieces of stock, means for removing the piecesfrom the stack, one at a time, and a retaining wall for the stack, saidwall being vertically movable by the engagement of the removing meanstherewith, of means for maintaining the wall in a given position towhich it is moved by the removing means until moved thereby to adifferent position.

27. In an assembling machine, the combination with removable patterns,means for locating thereon the parts to be assembled, respectively, andmeans for picking up at least one part from one of the patterns andsuperimposing it upon a predetermined portion of a part located uponanother pattern, of means for blocking any superimposing movement ofsaid first named means other than that causing superimposition of a partfrom one pattern upon said predetermined portion of a part on said otherpattern.

28. In an assembling machine, the combination with a support for aplurality of shoe upper parts, a support for a plurality of piles ofpieces of stock, and means for picking up pieces, one from each pile,and superimposing them upon the shoe upper parts, respectively, mountedon their original support, of means for blocking any superimposingmovement of the first named means F other than that causingsuperimposition of said pieces upon a predetermined portion of said shoeupper parts, respectively.

HERBERT E. EDWARDS.

